V8Pro or SR? Bluefin S? Pretty new, fewer options...

Interesting comments, my suggestion would be try before you buy, it may take a while to get what you want but when you do you’ll be happy with it.

I like to listen to what people say so you can make an informed decision however you need to be aware some of the guys on here could paddle a cork in 50 knot breeze and a 5m swell.

I currently paddle a v10 G2 after progressing from a plastic through a few skis, going too tippy to earlier (Stellar Ski, can’t remember the model as it was about 8 years ago, 6.5 metre, turned like the Queen Mary) then reverting to a V10 sport G1.

All the boats you mentioned will suit, for me the Epics boats fit and feel comfortable, that said they are heavy boats, but I consider this part of my workout.

As someone mentioned, skis hold there value, so if you get sick of it sell it an buy another. That said I still have my old V10 sport which can handle anything.

I paddle 1-3 days a week when time permits, 52 years old, 183 cms tall and 96 kgs, I consider myself an average paddler. I paddle alone these days but have paddled with groups in the past, both have there pros and cons. These days paddling is my yoga on water I get out there focus on my breathing, stroke the ocean and just switch off, its awesome.

"I often paddle with a buddy in a V14 on a lake and this morning I was able to borrow a V8 (performance layup) and I gained 0.5-0.75mph. Instead of cruising just under 6mph and sprinting 1/2mi at 6.5 I could cruise at 6.5-6.8 and sprint 1/2mi at ~7.2."

That does not sound right. You mean going from V14 to V8 sport increased your speed. Shouldn't it be the other way around? V14 should have been the much faster boat.

No . He's in a V14, I moved from a Nelo 510 to a V8...

I just wanted to follow up on this thread. It was a great conversation and really got me thinking. In the end I bought Newbflat's S18S tonight and hope to be paddling tomorrow Thanks everyone!

Good choice firtree. It’s hard to see how you could have anything but fun in a stable and versatile ski like that.
Hope you get plenty of great downwind runs.

Good choice firtree. If you want to get a skinnier boat in a couple years you can sell the S18 and it will be as though you were renting the thing for 100-200$ per year. Be sure to get a wing paddle too if you don’t already have one.

Once again I think people oversimplify the beginners should buy a beginners boat equation. Do you buy a boat for the 10% of paddles where you feel challenged or do you buy a boat for the 90% of paddles where you're paddling in flat water, talking to mates, or there a bumps that are small and organised. The s18 will be like sitting in a bathtub if you're in rough water, good luck in your first race or trying to keep up with mates on social paddles. My point is, isn't it easier to modify the conditions you paddle in, in a beginners boat like an SR, rather than buy a boat you will struggle to get speed in and grow out of in a months time. Surfski paddling is a challenge, there has to be an element of challenge in learning. Every situation, every person is different. Some people enjoy the the challenge of learning to paddle, some people buy Camry's. Thats life.

And some people don’t want to miss out when it’s 40 knots and 4 metres.

So Atlas, wait a minute and excuse me. Are you saying any Knucklhead in a Bluefin can challenge 40 knots and 4 meters? Are you serious! And then the other question is: can these conditions only be challenged in a ski like a Bluefin or v8? Excuse me, I don't know about you, but, my experience is quite different, sorry.

Of course not. I’m saying that not everyone that paddles a “beginner” ski does so because they don’t want to challenge themselves.
I’m also saying that not everyone that wants to paddle in 40 knots and 4 metres can do it in an advanced ski. I have enormous respect for anyone that can however.

Just a 2c to chuck in here.

A couple of paddlers here in Cape Town regularly switch to more stable boats when the Miller's Run is really cooking (Swordfish to Bluefin for example). Of course not everyone has the luxury of access to multiple boats.

Also while I understand Dicko's point about getting tired of a stable boat - and I certainly would - there are a couple of things:

1. Not everyone is interested in racing their mates every time they go out. Some paddlers just want to have a chilled float on the water - and that's ok.
2. I was reminded recently just how difficult it is for a new paddler to stay upright even on relatively stable skis when a buddy took up the sport for the first time. Hence for me a general rule (and rules always have exceptions) is that it's better to start on a more stable ski.
3. Most skis have pretty good resale value - so it's usually not the case that you're stuck with a ski. A pretty good approach is to use a really stable boat for a couple of months, get somewhat paddling fit, develop something of a stroke and balance, then flog the barge and move up to something slightly more frisky.

What I was suggesting before was that even a leisurely paddle with your mates is so much harder when you have a slow boat. Trying to keep up with a group of Fenn elites in an intermediate ski or slower just pisses everyone off.

I reckon 60-70 % of the time I paddle, it is in water that I could paddle any elite ski on the market. 20% of the time I would still be comfortable in small downwind on that same ski. 10% of the paddles I'm thinking that this is hard work and 5% of the time I don't go out cos I don't have the boat, the skill and I'm old and fat. What ski do I buy? It depends on your attitude to paddling. So many factors.

I'd rather keep up and chat with my mates and enjoy moderate downwinds, than crank the big downwinds and finish 200 metres behind on the daily paddles in flatter waters. But that's my situation. I think the s18 falls into the latter category, the SR is closer to the first. Depends what you want.

Re resale: you’re lucky to get 50% of new price for a popular current model in good condition. For a minor brand or a superseded model, you’ll virtually have to give it away in my experience.

Re resale: you’re lucky to get 50% of new price for a popular current model in good condition. For a minor brand or a superseded model, you’ll virtually have to give it away in my experience

Yep, I should have said... Never buy your first ski new!

What I meant was that a used ski tends to hold its value for a while at least - but clearly that will vary depending where you live.

I bought my Blue Fin S new as my first ski.
Quite frankly I don't see myself buying an intermediate or elite ski.
I feel comfortable in the Blue Fin and I am sure it won't disappoint on a downwind run.

I paddle both flat water and in the ocean. I am coming to terms with surfing waves , so in another 3 or 4 months will try my first Millers downwind.

The Blue Fin will satisfy my needs for a surfski as I am not competitive and have no interest in racing.
What I have most enjoyed with the Blue Fin is it's stability and the ease at which it catches waves.

So far it has been a blast.

The issue with a tippy ski is not whether you can have fun in it or not, but can you climb back on to it after you fall out. Probably not.